Moldova Switches Government Website Languages from "Moldovan" to Romanian

[Romano-Dacis]

http://www.rferl.org/content/Moldova...s/1890203.html

Moldovan Government Switches To 'Romanian' Language On Websites

a sign of growing rapprochement with neighboring EU-member Romania, Moldova's government has changed the language signs on all of its websites from "Moldovan" (MD) to "Romanian" (RO), RFE/RL's Moldovan Service reports.

The Moldovan Constitution states that the official language of the country is "Moldovan," although most linguists say the language spoken in Moldova does not differ enough Romanian to be considered a different language.

The new pro-Western government has said it will try to amend the constitution in the future to remove the "Moldovan language" concept.

It appears 50 years of communist brainwashing is finally coming to an end. This action is set to be followed up by the removal of "Moldovan" as Moldova's national language from the constitution, its replacement with Romanian. "Moldovan" is identical to Romanian and is not acknowledged as a seperate language by any academic community. The use of "Moldovan" has been seen mostly as a political polemic. This latest move is seen as a revitalization of cross-border relations and cross-border national consciousness between Romanians and Moldovans.

[Admiral Piett]

Moldovan-Romanian union perhaps? Or is it like the Rus and the Belarus?

[Romano-Dacis]

Moldovan-Romanian union perhaps? Or is it like the Rus and the Belarus?

The idea of a Moldovan-Romanian union is very popular among nationalists and especially young Moldovans who want a better life. The two countries were formerly unified and half of the historic Moldova (the half which has all the important cultural centers) is currently a territory of Romania. This is because the Principality of Moldavia/Moldova decided to unify with the Principality of Wallachia in 1859, creating the state of Romania. At this time the Eastern half of Moldavia, what is Basarabia and today is the Republic of Moldova (with parts of Ukraine) was under occupation by the Russian Empire, so it was not unified with the rest of the principality.

Preventing a union has been of great concern to the former Soviet Union and the current Russian Federation. Today a union means expansion of the EU and NATO closer to Russia's borders, and also will likely eliminate the rogue state of Transnistria, which is like a Russian colony in the territory (to this date it still has a Russian army on its territory).

I hope there is a union; liberals think it would be bad for the economy but I disagree, and also don't really care. Blood is worth more than money.

[Erik]

How did they call the language(s) before Moldova and Wallachia joined to form Romania?

ie: which word is older: "Romanian" or "Moldovan"?

Moldovan-Romanian union perhaps? Or is it like the Rus and the Belarus?

I think that could only happen if Moldova joined the EU first. (although I'm not 100% sure about the EU rules on that)
But once they joined, there would probably be less demand for a full re-unification, since the border between the countries would pretty much disappear anyways.

[Romano-Dacis]

How did they call the language(s) before Moldova and Wallachia joined to form Romania?

ie: which word is older: "Romanian" or "Moldovan"?

Romanian was definitely the older word. The Moldavian chroniclers of the 17th century even stated that their language was Romanian.
De Neamul Moldovenilor [On the Moldavian People] by Miron Costin
Aşa şi neamul acésta, de carele scriem, al ţărâlor acestora, numele vechiŭ şi mai direptŭ ieste rumân, adecă râmlean, de la Roma. Acest nume de la discălicatul lor de Traian, şi cât au trăit pănă la pustiirea lor di pre acéste locuri şi cât au trăitŭ în munţi, în Maramoroş şi pe Olt, tot acest nume au ţinut şi ţin pănă astăzi şi încă mai bine munténii decât moldovénii, că ei şi acum zic şi scriu ţara sa rumânească, ca şi românii cei din Ardeal.
TRANSLATION
"Likewise this people [Moldavians], of this country [Moldavia], true and old name is ruman [Romanian], as in, he from Rome. This name they received from Trajan, and as long as they lived here until their abandonment of these regions [Moldavian valley] and for as long as they lived in the mountains, in Maramures [Transylvanian region] and on the Olt [river], still this name we kept and keep to this day, and the Wallachians keep it better than the Moldavians, as they call their country "the Romanian Country", like the Romanians from Transylvania"

If you read the old chronicles you will find that Moldavians and Wallachians considered themselves "Romanians." It makes sense if you consider that both states were founded by people coming out of Transylvania.

[Koblentz]

Good for them. I always thought the insistence that Romanian and Moldovan were two completely separate languages and cultures was silly.

[Romano-Dacis]

Good for them. I always thought the insistence that Romanian and Moldovan were two completely separate languages and cultures was silly.

It's a step towards normality. The analogy linguists always is use is "this is what would happen if Americans decided they speak 'American' rather than English."

[KingOfTheIsles]

Look at the whole Serbian/Croatian/Montenegrin/Bosniak thing. A "language" is defined as much by politics as it is by geography or linguistics. Just as you have two very dialect/languages considered as two separate languages due to political consideration, you have the example of Standard Mandarin which attempts to unite a massively disparate group of dialects under the umbrella of one national language. I don't really see why this is much of an issue, if our American friends across the pond wanted to define their language as "American", that wouldn't bother me one bit. If Moldova seeks to forge a future as an independent country, I see no reason why it shouldn't call its language Moldovan. If it seeks a future within Romania, then Romanian would be a better name. Why all the fuss?

[Erik]

Look at the whole Serbian/Croatian/Montenegrin/Bosniak thing. A "language" is defined as much by politics as it is by geography or linguistics. Just as you have two very dialect/languages considered as two separate languages due to political consideration, you have the example of Standard Mandarin which attempts to unite a massively disparate group of dialects under the umbrella of one national language.

In linguistics, a language is defined mainly by grammar rather than by vocabulary/pronunciation (the latter changes much more rapidly than the former)

But of course linguistics gets ignored when it comes to politics.

If Moldova seeks to forge a future as an independent country, I see no reason why it shouldn't call its language Moldovan.

From what I understand, the vast majority of Moldovans would rather be part of Romania than be independent.
It's Russia who wants Moldova to be "independent".

A union: good for Romania and Moldavia, not so good for EU economically and politically speaking...

I can see why it's good for Moldova, but why for Romania?
Moldova is a lot poorer than Romania, so they will either have to invest heavily in their development, or accept very large economic disparity between the regions.

The EU will probably just ignore Moldova, they rather give money to Ireland and Spain than to Eastern Europe.

[Razor]

I can see why it's good for Moldova, but why for Romania?
Moldova is a lot poorer than Romania, so they will either have to invest heavily in their development, or accept very large economic disparity between the regions.

The EU will probably just ignore Moldova, they rather give money to Ireland and Spain than to Eastern Europe.

I was under the impression that Romania also wanted Moldavia back, perhaps for nationalistic reasons and for 'history's sake'?
Can't comment on the wealth of Moldavia, but if Romania is wealthier than Moldavia, then...

[Lost Sultan]

Wow...so партизанский молдованский is coming to an end huh...I miss you soviet union... :*(

[YuriVII]

This will probably force a final decision on Trans-Dneistr, for better or worse.

Otherwise, Moldovans are Romanians. Soviet propaganda was not as effective as it seems. In fact, it taught many of us to read between the lines.

[corpse helvetica]

[QUOTE]

Otherwise, Moldovans are Romanians. Soviet propaganda was not as effective as it seems.

In fact, it taught many of us to read between the lines.

still do...so ...

This will probably force a final decision on Trans-Dneistr, for better or worse.

/reading between the lines/ Russia gets new puppet province, oh so "independent" - only Kremlin and Chavez will reqognize it.

[YuriVII]

[QUOTE=corpse helvetica;6383754]

still do...so ...

/reading between the lines/ Russia gets new puppet province, oh so "independent" - only Kremlin and Chavez will reqognize it.

Only know for sure when the fat lady sings

[removeduser_487563287433]

You know your country is crap when union with Romania seems like a better life. Still, that's russia's fault. Anyway, i'd rather not have euorope's poorest free to roam the eu.

[Salvatorel]

Only know for sure when the fat lady sings

Hungry bear's song is scheduled for performance before that of fat lady's

[Razor]

A union: good for Romania and Moldavia, not so good for EU economically and politically speaking...

[Romano-Dacis]

From what I understand, the vast majority of Moldovans would rather be part of Romania than be independent.

The problem is that inventing your own "language name" to strengthen a national identity is scientifically untruthful. It would be like Austrians saying they don't speak German anymore. Politically they can say what they want but there is only one scientific truth in linguistics. Regardless of what they call it, it is still the same language of Romanian (formally Daco-Romanian).
It's Russia who wants Moldova to be "independent".

A union: good for Romania and Moldavia, not so good for EU economically and politically speaking...

I think that's a bit of a stretch. 1/4 of Moldova's population works abroad anyway. Moldova is also tiny. They did a study and they found that the economic effects on Romania would not be that great, let alone on the EU.
It's not Turkey. There is no massive Moldovan population dying to get their hands on EU passports (though a lot of them do want Romanian citizenship).

I was under the impression that Romania also wanted Moldavia back, perhaps for nationalistic reasons and for 'history's sake'?
Can't comment on the wealth of Moldavia, but if Romania is wealthier than Moldavia, then...

Moldova is probably the poorest country in Europe. Unification would be good for Romania and it would, as Yuri said, end the Transnistria conflict. I'm ok with Transnistria becoming its own country (which will likely implode) so long as they don't take Tighina or any historic territories of Moldavia.

The EU will probably just ignore Moldova, they rather give money to Ireland and Spain than to Eastern Europe.

Are you familiar with the acronym "PIGS"?

Anyway, this thread is more about scientific integrity. It's wrong to pretend another language exists when, well, it doesn't. Science doesn't change due to politics.

[KingOfTheIsles]

Nonsense. If that's the case, then give the "scientific" criteria for separating one language from another.

[Admiral Piett]

I think it'd be a good thing to see a unification. You hear so much about countries wanting to split apart these days, it's a nice gesture to see that two countries move closer towards unity.